Multipurpose Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose dispenser is provided. The multipurpose dispenser comprises two deposits and having different products and means for dispensing each of them simultaneously or alternatively. A control plate controls two motors. The first motor transmits its movement via gears to a pusher element which acts on a push-button arranged at the exit to the valve of deposit, dispensing the contents of the deposit either in a dropwise manner to channels or pipes, or by spraying it outside through a window created for this purpose in the dispenser cover, and the second motor drives a fan that circulates air containing the product held in deposit that is evaporated by a cord, the air exiting to the outside via gratings according to the rotation direction of the fan.

This application is a U.S. National Phase Application of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/ES2003/000460 filed Sep. 11, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new multipurpose dispenser, as indicated inthe name and title of this specification, which has various functionsand is not limited to dispensing pressurised or sprayed liquids, butwhich, at the same time or alternatively or simultaneously, according toits programming and requirements, can dispense room fresheners,insecticides, etc., by vaporisation, directly into the atmosphere. Themultipurpose dispenser combines all these functions whereby it providesconsiderably important and advantageous characteristics with respect tothe dispensing apparatuses and devices that are currently known forfulfilling similar purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known dispensers do not have all the functions and possibilitiesdescribed in association with this multipurpose dispenser. As anexample, Spanish Patent No. 9701087 and Spanish Utility Model No.200101481 are known, which are merely liquid dispensing apparatuses.Also, Spanish Utility Model No. 99002960 is known which is only a roomfreshener device. The apparatuses in these documents are included amongmany others that are known conventionally in the market, all of themhaving limited possibilities, whereby they must be replaced depending onthe intended purposes and the places where they are going to beinstalled. Contrary to this, the new multipurpose dispensing apparatusaccording to this invention can be used practically everywhere, and forpractically all the currently known uses of bacteriostatics and roomfresheners, and even insecticides.

In short, it is a combination of different elements in one and the samedispenser, which comprises two deposits holding different contents thatcan be used in combination, alternatively or totally independently, andwhich are controlled automatically by one single control that can beprogrammed according to the functions to be fulfilled. This combinationand arrangement represents a great development in the state of the art,since a device having these characteristics is not known in the market,only those devices that are generally independent having one of theindividual functions, not combined with the others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect, the multipurpose dispenser of the presentinvention comprises a pressurising or spraying system which iscontrolled automatically to supply the product directly to the relevantchannels, or into the atmosphere, and its purpose is to permit thecleaning, deodorisation, and the disinfection, sanitation ordisinsectisation of sanitary equipment in the bathroom, toilet, publiclavatory, etc, and also of the environments themselves, both public andprivate. This is achieved thanks to its automatic control, which enablesthe dispenser to operate according to the requirements and purpose ofeach place where it is installed, but which, in turn, offers thepossibility of replacing the dropwise system directed at conduitchannels, with a direct spraying action into the atmosphere.

Moreover, it comprises another system inside the same apparatus which,being controlled in the same automatic fashion but with a separatemotor, is intended to direct an essence that can be either a deodorant,a room freshener or even an insecticide, directly into the atmosphere inthe place where the apparatus is installed, which will mainly be abathroom, as indicated above, but which can be any other place havingother greater needs for refreshing, disinfecting or disinsecting theatmosphere.

All this is achieved with one single apparatus having the whole ensemblecombined and automatically controlled, allowing said multiple functionsto which the title of the invention refers, to exist either separatelyor in combination, and this consequently affords important advantages,both in terms of the manufacture and/or assembly, and the use of theactual dispensing apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is best understood from the following detailed descriptionwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasizedthat, according to common practice, the various features of the drawingare not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the variousfeatures are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included inthe drawing are the following Figures:

FIG. 1—This is the main drawing and it represents a front view of thedispenser, without the front cover 5, in which the arrangement of allthe main dispenser elements can be observed, beginning with the positionin the central-right hand lower part thereof of the main deposit 7,which includes the valve 20 and the push-button 19. In the lower lefthand part there is the smaller essence deposit 10, incorporating thecord 11. In the top left hand part, there appears the fan 13 whichcirculates the air treated with the product contents that is evaporatedby the cord 11, and in turn the gears 16 and 17 which are driven by themotor 15, transmit the movement to the pusher element 18, which actsdirectly on push-button 19 of deposit 7. In the central right hand toppart one can see where the dispenser control card or plate 21 isinstalled and to the right where the batteries 22 are located that powerthe control plate 21 and motors 15 and 14.

FIG. 2—Represents the dispenser cover and the arrangement of theventilation gratings 24, 25, and 26 that are placed at three differentheights, and through which the air where the dispenser is installed willenter and then exit treated with the product that is evaporated by thecord 11. The air current will be generated mainly by the action of thefan 13 and the rotation direction given to the fan as required, whichactivates one or other of the dispenser gratings as an air inlet oroutlet.

FIG. 3—Represents the dispenser cover seen from above so as to revealits front curved shape 23 whereby it can conceal all the dispenserdevices, occupying as small a space as possible.

FIG. 4—Represents an alternative cover that would be used in combinationwith the push-button 19 that can be used alternatively so that insteadof directing the drops to certain channels or pipes, it could spray themdirectly into the atmosphere, in which case the dispenser cover wouldincorporate the window 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Generally speaking, the multipurpose dispenser which is thesubject-matter of this invention is intended to be able to dispense asmuch as may be required in order to obtain clean, disinfected, refreshedand sanitised places, by being able to avail of one or several of thefunctions as required each time, all this being possible by virtue ofthe combined dispensing of the essences and chemical liquids or productsthat already exist and are known in the market, mainly for bathrooms andtoilets.

All this is achieved by providing a compact dispensing apparatus, havinga unified, safe image owing to its restricted access in the form of acorresponding lock. The multipurpose dispenser provides some clearadvantages, both in terms of its use, which we must remember will mainlybe in bathrooms and public toilets, and in terms of its assembly, whichis very simple owing to the fact that the dispenser is mounted on a baseor frame which has a space prepared for installing each componentelement, and a front closing cover which in turn incorporatescorresponding gratings for letting air or the dispensed product in andout. In turn, said cover makes it very easy to replace the deposits andbatteries, without altering the operation of the apparatus in any way.

Therefore, referring to the appended figures, the dispenser according tothe invention can be described by its different parts, comprising aframe 1 which incorporates the device's component elements. The frame isalready prepared to be installed preferably on the wall, by beingscrewed on at points 2, and it has a quadrangular shape being longerthan wider, with its top face 3 arching outwards. In the lower partthereof it has an arrangement 4 for laterally housing the hinges for thefront cover 5, which, once installed, will close off the dispenser bymeans of a corresponding safety lock indicated at 6.

In the central and right hand lower part thereof, the frame has a largecavity intended to receive a main deposit 7 of a product that is to bedispensed, either by a controlled dropwise action directed at thecorresponding channels or pipes, or by being sprayed directly into theatmosphere. In turn, on the lower base there is an outlet 8 for thechannels for the dispensed liquid, which will normally be small pipes,supported by a pin or support 9 provided on the rear wall of the frame.

In its lower left hand part thereof, the frame has a cavity that isintended to receive a smaller deposit 10 that preferably contains an“essence” to be dispensed by means of a cord 11. This cord 11 isincorporated in the small deposit 10 by means of a plug 12 designedespecially for this purpose, and by means of an air current generated bya fan 13, via said cord 11, the said essence will be dispensed into theatmosphere so as to fulfil the function of room freshener, deodorant oreven insecticide, if necessary.

It is evident that, in the top left hand part thereof, the frame has asmall fan 13 that is driven automatically and conveniently by a motor 14to generate an air current, which, in contact with the cord 11 of theessence deposit 10, will correctly dispense the part of the essenceneeded to purify or disinfect the atmosphere.

In the top central left hand part there is a second motor 15, separatefrom the motor 14 coupled to the fan 13, its output including a gear 16coupled to other transmission gears 17 in order to transmit a movementto a pusher element 18 which acts on a push-button 19 associated with avalve 20 in the large deposit 7 containing one of the products to bedispensed.

In the top right hand part, the dispenser comprises a vertical standingplate 21 with an electronic control circuit that incorporates a controlprogram for the whole automated dispenser. The program allows the deviceto be programmed as required. In the top right hand part, the dispenserhas a cavity 22 for housing the electrical batteries for both thecontrol system plate 21 and the motors, that is, motor 15 connected togears 17 of pusher element 18 of push-button 19 of the large deposit 7,and motor 14 of fan 13.

The front cover 5 of the dispenser is curved outwards 23, and in the topleft hand part thereof it is provided with a grating 24 which acts asoutlet for the essence dispensed by the air current generated by fan 13.In turn, a central grating 25 acts as air passage for the currentgenerated by the fan 13, and as it is located at the same height as thecord 11 in the essence deposit 10, it can also perform the function ofroom freshener when the fan is not is use, and this is because it isprovided, in turn, with a grating 26 in the lower part thereof, whichcauses an air current to be generated inside the apparatus, with orwithout the fan. It should be pointed out that the air inlets andoutlets can be inverted as required, as well as the rotation directiongiven to the fan, since it will often depend on where the dispensingapparatus is installed.

It should be noted here that the push-button 19 can act as a sprayer. Inthis case, the cover 5 includes a small window 27 to let the dispensedproduct contained in the deposit 7 exit to the outside.

As can be seen, one single dispenser presents a series ofcharacteristics whereby a series of functions can be combined, and itcan dispense disinfectants, cleaning agents, deodorants, room freshenersand insecticides, combining their functions, by providing all itselements in a simple but compact manner, which is safe both in terms ofits manufacturing and its final use, even when replacing the deposits.The said combination can be multiplied, since on many occasions severaldispensers will be installed, for example, in public places, andtherefore the function of each dispenser can be selected in combinationwith the function of the others, and this provides an even better arrayof multiple functions which is the result of the advantages of thisinvention, and which are not known to exist in the market in one singleapparatus of this kind.

With reference to the numbering used in the invention specification andin the accompanying drawings, the multipurpose dispenser is seen tocomprise a frame 1 to be supported on the wall in a conventional manner,there being provided for this purpose the holes 2 in both the top andbottom thereof, with even a hole in the top central part thereof, saidframe having an outlet 8 in the lower part thereof for the pipes and apin 9 also for said pipes in the event that the product is dispenseddropwise to said channels or pipes from the push-button 19.

The larger size deposit 7 is arranged on the left hand central lowerpart of the frame, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In the top left hand partthereof, the larger size deposit 7 includes a corresponding valve 20activated by the push-button 19, which acts by directing the dropstowards the channels or pipes or, alternatively, by spraying themdirectly outwards through the window 27 in the cover 5 (illustrated inFIG. 4). The push-button 19 is activated by a pusher element 18, whichis arranged in combination with gears 17 that receive the movement of agear 16 connected to the output of a motor 15 powered by batterieshoused at 22. The operation of the motor 15 is controlled by a controlplate 21 on which all the dispenser functions are programmed, accordingto usage requirements.

The above arrangement is combined with that of the second deposit 10,located in the bottom left hand part. At the top thereof, the seconddeposit 10 comprises a cord 11 that evaporates the liquid contained indeposit 10. Above said cord there is a fan 13 that can generate an aircurrent to dispense that evaporated by the cord 11. The fan 13 is drivenby a motor 14 powered by the batteries housed at 22, and its operationis controlled according to that programmed on the control plate 21whereby said plate controls both motors 14 and 15, combining thedispensing of each of the products contained in the deposits orcontainers 7 and 10, according to the requirements of each.

The whole dispenser mechanism described above is perfectly protected bya cover 5, which incorporates a safety lock 6 so that its handling iscontrolled by authorised personnel, when maintaining and replacing thedeposits or containers 7 and 10 and the batteries 22 and even whenprogramming the control plate 21. The function of the cover 5 isimportant, as can be seen, both in terms of manufacturing and use, andalso because it provides the multipurpose dispenser with a unified andunique image.

1. A multipurpose dispenser, for use with batteries to dispense aproduct comprising: a frame provided with wall support means and a frontcover, at least one deposit for a product to be dispensed, at least onedispensing mechanism activated by driving means powered by saidbatteries, and two deposits and for products to be dispensed, where oneof said deposits incorporates a valve, which in the top part thereof hasa push-button that is activated by a pusher element driven by themovement of a motor that is transmitted via gears and, said motor beingpowered by said batteries located in a housing and controlled by acontrol plate, which in turn controls and combines the operation of saidmotor with that of another motor that drives a fan which circulates theair that is in contact with a product evaporated by a cord located inthe other of said deposits, all this being combined in a simultaneous oralternative fashion, according to the control plate programming.
 2. Themultipurpose dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said covercomprises gratings in the top, central and bottom parts thereof,respectively, which cause the air current generated by the fan tocirculate through them and the circulating air to come into contact withthe product evaporated from the deposit by said cord.
 3. Themultipurpose dispenser according to claim 2, wherein said push-button isa sprayer push-button which dispenses the product contained in depositdirectly into the outside atmosphere via a window included for thispurpose in the front cover of the dispenser, in simultaneous oralternative combination with the dispensing of the product contained inthe deposit by means of said gratings.
 4. The multipurpose dispenseraccording to claim 2, wherein said push-button dispenses the productcontained in the deposit into small pipes that are supported on theframe by a pin or support and traversed by an exit and directed towardsthe corresponding channels or pipes, to be treated in a dropwise manner,in simultaneous or alternative combination with the dispensing of theproduct contained in the deposit by means of said gratings.